If you want to attend the symposium on-site, please email sympo_beijing@confmss.org. The symposium
seats are limited.
Both contributors and non-contributors who wish to participate in the symposium in person
need to apply to the symposium organizers.
In order to ensure the information is correct and up to date, there may be changes which we
are not aware of. And different countries have different rules for the visa application. It
is always a good idea to check the latest regulations in your country. This page just gives
some general information of the visa application.
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Check which visa you need to get
The majority of foreign citizens are required to obtain one of the China visas in order to
visit the country, as there are only a few nationalities who are granted visa free
entry for China for short stays. At the moment, travelers from countries who
are not visa-exempt for China are obliged to apply for a visa in person from a Chinese
embassy or consulate, with only a few exceptions, including for tour groups and airline crew
from a few select countries. This is expected to change in the near future for select
eligible nationalities when China introduces an electronic application form for visas. This
will make it possible to apply for certain visa types for China exclusively online,
eliminating the need to travel to an embassy or consulate in person.
As the launch date for the Chinese electronic is yet to be finalized, however, non
visa-exempt citizens are still currently required to apply for one of the following
visa types for China from an embassy or consulate.
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China Visa Registration Process
Foreign nationals who wish to travel to China will need to follow a registration process to
obtain their visa. The China Visa application form should be signed and every question must
be answered. Applicants may select "none" if the question does not apply to their individual
circumstances. Applications for the Chinese visa must be completed in block capital letters
and handwritten changes will not be accepted. The signature on the China visa application
must match the signature on the applicant's passport. People's Republic of China diplomatic
missions require that each visa application is completed following strict guidelines.
Supporting documents must be accurately and carefully prepared.
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How Long Does It Take to Get a Visa to China
Generally speaking, if the applicant meets all the requirements, has all the necessary
documents and holds a passport with at least six months validity and two blank pages it
should take about four working days to get a Chinese visa. Some People's Republic of China
Diplomatic Missions offer rush service, which speed up the processing time of a visa for
China. Nonetheless, it is only available for cases of extreme urgency and depend on the
approval of the Chinese Consular Office. Foreign nationals who wish to travel to Mainland
China, whether it is for tourism, business, transit or other, are recommended to apply
between two months to fifteen days before their departure. If the traveler applies with too
much time in advance, their visa might expire before they can use it. When a visa for China
is granted, the validity period of such visa begins from the moment it was approved.
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How Do You Get a Visa for China?
The People's Republic of China has several types of visas in place. The visa a traveler
needs depends on their citizenship, purpose of trip and the length of their stay. Currently,
there are only some countries that are exempt from applying for a China visa to travel to
Mainland China. However, the country does waive visas if the traveler meets specific
requirements and is traveling to certain regions.
To apply for a Chinese visa, the traveler will need to complete an application
form, attach a recently-taken color photo, submit the application and pay the
respective fee. Tourist that are from non-visa exempt countries should apply for the Tourist
(L) visa, issued to aliens who are traveling to Mainland China for tourism purposes only.
Those who wish to carry out business in China will need to obtain the Business (M) China
visa.
To successfully apply for a visa to China, the applicant will need to provide supporting
documents and a valid passport. If applying for a Tourist (L) visa to China, the supporting
documents refer to round-trip tickets, accommodation bookings, or an invitation
letter from a travel agency in China. It is important to note that the
China visa application requirements will vary depending on the type of visa
the traveler is applying for.
